Enticing Broncos to Go After Long-Term Saints OC Pete Carmichael
Even though Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos have made maintaining the coaching staff a top priority, staff adjustments may still be necessary. Greg Penner, the CEO and co-owner, will meet with Sean Payton, the head coach, and general manager George Paton to discuss the staff and roster.
“The next two weeks are ahead of us. During his final-season news conference last week, Payton stated, “I’ll be spending time with George, Greg, our coordinators, and all that stuff.” “We’ll look closely, just as we do with our own roster, at what we’re doing.”
Pete Carmichael, the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, left the team on Tuesday. Intriguing names are frequently thrown back onto the market at the end of each NFL season due to the inevitable ups and downs in the coaching ranks. This gives Payton additional options to bolster his staff, especially if he’s looking for more specialized knowledge or possibly even a trusted former lieutenant. Carmichael was Payton’s righthand man for the majority of his 18 years with the team.
In fact, Carmichael spent every moment of Payton’s time in the Big Easy with him, so his close relationships and understanding of his methods could be extremely valuable. Especially after the Saints missed the playoffs, the 52-year-old assistant coach leaves New Orleans with some baggage, but it’s crucial to look past Carmichael’s most recent performance outside of the Payton stadium.
Between 2006 and 21 when they were together, Payton mostly kept strict control over play-calling duties. When he did allow Carmichael to call plays, he described any adjustments to the offense as “subtle.” Together, the two produced an incredible 10 scoring offenses that were among the top five, and they finished 13 times in the top 10 in points scored.
In addition to helping Payton and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees of the Saints communicate effectively, Carmichael was crucial in enabling the head coach to call plays as efficiently as possible during games. The Broncos may decide that bringing in a familiar helping hand is necessary after Payton expressed his displeasure with the offense’s 2023 performance.
Payton turned sixty years old during the 2023 regular season, and he even acknowledged making a number of poor decisions.
Payton turned sixty years old during the 2023 regular season, and he even acknowledged making a number of poor decisions. It’s not hard to picture Payton asking another reliable set of eyes to assist him.
But Payton always seems to go back to his stoic faith in his own abilities the moment you catch a glimpse of his frailties.
“I want to have my eyes fixed so that when a play occurs once this year, I call the correct play and don’t make a mistake. That was awkward,” remarked Payton. The truth is that, in my opinion, it becomes simpler as one ages and gains confidence in their identity and career. I believe that when you’re younger, you can frequently be very defensive about certain things. The one thing I am proficient in is winning.”
In the NFL coaching ranks, Father Time is still unbeaten. Ultimately, Payton would be better served by recruiting another reliable scientist to work in his football laboratory.
In terms of total yards and scoring, the Broncos offense was ranked No. 26 at the end of the season. Even though Joe Lombardi, the offensive coordinator currently in place, has been a longtime disciple of Payton, he does not have the same track record of accomplishments and high output that the head coach does with Carmichael.
In the Broncos’ quest for a quarterback this offseason, Payton will undoubtedly stop at nothing to acquire every possible asset to boost the team’s woeful offense. Carmichael’s unexpected position in the NFL unemployment line may prove to be fortunate, and the Broncos’ overuse of the salary cap won’t affect the team’s ability to hire coaches.
After all, the NFL’s wealthiest ownership group is the Walton/Penners group.
